How Long Can My Honda Civic Last??

I have a 1998 Honda Civic EX with about 125,000 miles on it. Bought it in 2000 with about 13,000 miles on it.This car is amazing. Runs like the day I bought it. Nothing wrong with it. I've followed the maintenance guide meticulously and I'm about to start at the beginning of the guide again. I've decided to keep it as long as possible. It's turning into a bit of a project to see how long it will last.The paint shines like new. I have it rustproofed every year.

On my 3rd set of tires, 2nd battery. A/C still works good.

My dealer tells me they have some customers with over 375,000 miles on their Civics and Accords! I can almost save up for a new one before this one dies!!Any feedback appreciated.

There is no reason that you should not be able to easily get into the upper 200's before having any serious issues. Even those are generally fixable - transmission, etc. Depending on your level of commitment there is no reason that you cannot reach the 400's.

My 2001 Civic has 135k on and runs like new - I am in the same boat as you - wanting to see how long it will run. I know several others with Honda's that run well with mileage in the 200-350k range. Its amazing what taking care of a car can do.

Well I'm keeping this thing. As I drive around, I've begun to take note of pre-1995 Civics and Accords. They're everywhere.

Took mine in for an oil change the other day and had this same conversation with one of the service advisors at the dealer. Told him those 2007s looked pretty good. He said, yes they do, but mine is better. Better overall car than the newer ones. In fact he claims that the 1996-2000 batch of Civics were particularly good. I still love driving it; and my ego can take it. It still looks great too.

I also have a 1998 Honda Civic, the LX model, other than the routine tires, exhaust,oil change every 3k and the routine water pump/timing belt change every 80K, I've done nothing to this vehicle and it runs like new, looks like new (no rust) just as you described. I have 200,000 on it right now and am torn about about getting a new one or waiting. Truth is, since the tune up at 175k, and the K&N air filter, I've been getting 40mpg average, way more than the new ones I've seen are getting.

switching to synthetic after so many miles is usually not recommended. Besides, after 175k, what more could synthetic help? your air filter and synthetic probably have very little to do with improved mileage, I would place all the credit with the tuneup.

If your car is running fine, there's absolutely no rational reason to get a new one. A monthly car payment can buy a lot of maintenance!

And I suppose you're talking MILES? I'm in Canada and I just turned 204,000 Kilometres, about 127,000 miles. So mine is nearly new!

I'm getting this bad habit of peering into older Civics and Accords in parking lots, curious as to the mileage. Someday, I'm going to get punched out.I regularly see 350,000 KMs plus - about 218,000 miles. Some pretty rough bodies, mind you on some of them. Imagine how long it will go if you take care them. I rust proof mine annually and baby it.

I also own a 1998 Honda Civic EX. It's got 209,000 miles. I looooove this car. Changed the battery at about 110000 miles. The Ignition coil went south at 125000 miles. I changed the spark plugs, wires , cap and rotor at 175000 miles. I change the oil, with Mobile 1 fully synthetic oil every 7000 miles(ok a few times 10000 miles). It's making a few funny noises now and then, but I love her anyway.

The only real repairs came from an attempeted car theft. Someone decided they deserved it more than me, and jimmied out the drivers side outside doorhandle. Did some damage to the body panel.

My mothers 96 accord had very few problems as well. An A/C problem. Also, someone tried to steal it as well. They popped the door handle off, got in the car, and butchered the ignition. They were probably about 5 seconds from having it before they apperently got scared off.

MY 1990 CIVIC HAS 165,000MILES RUNS PRETTY GOOD AROUND THE CITY....I WAS WONDERING IF I SHOULD SWITCH TO SYNTHETIC OIL&WILL IT PROLONG THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE...RIGHT KNOW I USE STORE BRAND OIL&I ADD A QUART OF LUCAS OIL STABILIZER WITH A CHEAP OIL FILTER AND AIR FILTER FOR THE PAST 2 YRS.RIGHT KNOW I GET ABOUT 350 MILES ON A FULL TANK....I REALLY WANT TO KEEP IT AS LONG AS POSSIBLE...I USE IT AS A SECOND CAR TO MY 1997 EXPEDITION...ANY POSITIVE FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.... ALSO I USE LUCAS FUEL TREATMENT WHEN I FILL UP AND I ALWAYS,USE REGULAR GAS.... ONE LAST THING DO YOU THINK I COULD RUN IT ON THE TURNPIKE OR PARKWAY FOR REALLY LONG DRIVES????THANK YOU....RAHWAY,NEW JERSEY

are their any other brands of oil that are equal to havoline,and what brand oil and air filter,and why do you dislike LUCAS PRODUCTS.....thank you....one more thing how often would you change the oil.....

Based upon Used Oil Analysis (UOA) reports that are published on the http://www.bobistheoilguy.com web site, Havoline pretty much stands alone as the best non-Synthetic oil currently on the market. If you want to go the Synthetic route, Mobil 1 0W-30 or German made Castrol Syntec 0W-30 is a good place to start.

As for air and oil filters, just go with quality products from say Pure (Purolator), Napa, Wix, Bosch and even (dare I say it?) OEM Honda filters.

Regarding the Lucas products, they're basically snake-oil, on the market to suck in folks who don't know any better. Don't believe me? That's fine, would you believe Honda? Great, open your Owner's Manual and read it. The bet is that Honda explicitly recommends that you use NO oil or fuel additives. The fact is that modern oil and gasoline are formulated in such a way as to not require any additives. Hey, for all you know the Lucas stuff is reacting with some of the oil and/or fuel ingredients and taking a bad situation and making it worse.

Regarding changing the oil... Here again, what does your Owner's Manual say? Honda knows a whole lot better than I do about the care and feeding of your engine. If your Owner's Manual says "Change your oil every 6,000 miles", and you decide to use Havoline (or any other non-synthetic for that matter), go with what Honda recommends. If you decide to use a good quality Group IV synthetic oil, bump the factory recommendation by at least 50%.

I bought a Civic 1.6 VTEC in January 2001 and I think it was assembled in the UK at Swindon. Most of its life it has been a Motorway journey car, never caned. Regular Services at the correct intervals. It used to manage 400 miles on one tank of petrol (11gals) which translated to over 42 mpg.However the engine now though feeling still like new is only managing 25 mpg at best.It does have AC on some of the time and nowadays it gets a lot of shorter journeys. So 25mpg is the currenet Urban level.There's very little oil consumption and I'm wondering why it doesn't still do in the 30mpg zone?

The wear in the engine in the Civic 1.6 is astonishingly good considering that it's nearly done 200,000 miles. Back in the old days a British engine couldn't get much past 60,000 without needing a decoke or the valves grinding in. Most company cars were totally driven into the ground by 100,000 miles but this Civic has a literally stunning life-span.

Do you think it needs tuning or does the fuel injection system start to get thirsty when they get fairly old?I'd be glad of advice so that I don't waste money trying to get dealers to improve it when it isn't possible.Thanks--Plado

My Civic has about 150,000 highway miles. Have it serviced at the dealer according to maintenance schedule. A couple days ago my A/C seemed to die. I tried to check the coolant level. Followed the manual instructions but found it impossible to see the max and min lines on the reservoir. Do I need to get under the car? Wanted to fill it myself if it was low, but I can't tell. Thanks. :P

Shame you didn't get the oil problem fixed cause you would be good to keep the car going indefinitely. I have a 97 Civic with 87,000 miles on it and plan to keep forever. Also have a 02 besides regular maintenance, tires, brakes replaced once and a battery replacing both sets of struts this year was the first major repair. Car looks like and runs like new. Why would anyone buy anything else?

I am delighted to read about fellow Civic owners who, like me, 1) love their cars 2) have put tons of miles on it 3) plan to keep it forever.

Min4e is a 99 LX four door auto with 201,500 miles. I have done nothing except the regular oil changes and replacement of parts as they fail (timing belt, water pump, rotor, catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, manifold, alternator, mid-pipe).

One major problem I have with this car is that it burns oil. A lot of times when I check the dipstick, it's either completely dry or below minimum. I have had this problem since almost day one. I am not sure what can be done about it.

Summary: Based on my experience and observations there should be no issues for at least 50k and with proper maintanence until 200k (or till car is 15). Then you will want to inventory the condition and possible corrosion issues. If you live in a cold climate washing the salt off the under body of the car during the winter is a good investment of time and money.

Caveat: Obviously certain "unorthodox" driving styles can lead a dramatic decline in longevity. For reasons best understood by the practitioners some people shift automatic transmissions manually. More realistically superharsh gridlock commutes and saline drenched roads like the Chicago area can also be problematic.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----

I had a 1993 Civic. I got it when I was 16 (it was new) and replaced it at 203k miles with a new Civic DX-VP this May. It absorbed a huge amount amount of punishment: I consistently drove it at terminal velocity when I first got my license and live in the pothole covered salt slicks of Chicago. Though being averse to bicycles and public transportation I never stirred the gearbox.

The corrosion and a number of routine maintenance issues that were coming due on my 93 prompted the change to the new car. The 93 needed its tune-up and the 2nd timing belt/waterpump was overdue, its dilapidated radiator was a decade old, the brakes were kaput and the tires were bald. All important issues whose interval had arrived. The combined expense of these items was not a viable investment.

Another incentive for change was my new Civic DX-VP at 14.2 cost only 2500 more than the original one did in 1993 (the 93 lacked the VP's A/C, hubcaps, power windows, passenger side mirror).

I don't know if each generation of Civic's fares better against the onset of longterm corrosion but I suspect there is good chance that exposed to the same conditions your car might fare slightly better than my 5th generation did- the trend seems to be upward in that realm. But we won't know for 5 years.

Unfortunately this corrosion is a threat and is time contingent as well and miles contingent. Flying in the face of some conventional and outmoded wisdom it will effect the suspension components and underbody of an Volvo, S-Class Mercedes or Jeep just as much as a subcompact. In fact, it is a less expensive problem for the cheaper to repair subcompact. I did have to replace a tie-rod at 193k miles. The gauntlet of potholes, bumps, salt and snow were the culprits. Move to a sunny climate with reasonable roads and this wouldn't have occurred unless I made a habit of plowing into curbs.

I don't know if other snowy climates use the salt levels that Chicago does, or if the roads look like they have been hit with JDAM GDU anti-runway munitions. Those issues are outside of your control to some extent. The reason I harp on this issue is that corrosion can be an expensive nemesis for any high mileage vehicle.

Complete the routine maintenance and that car should give no problems till 175k or so- though after that you will probably be looking at all the interval related expenses. This can vary depending on sequences. For example: the timing belt/waterpump is recommended to be replaced at 90k so the second one would be at 180-200 depending on when you changed the first one. With this and other engine related issues taken care of the car should continue to run fine.

But I cannot reiterate enough- if you live in area with unconscionable roads and winter like Chicago in 5 years or so you will want to take a look at whats going on with corrosion type issues effecting the tie-rods and such (I had to replace 1 at 193k).

Well I am in desperate need for a car, used. I drive to the city a lot, which is about thirty minutes away. This 2007 honda civic (rebuilt title) has 95k, how long do they last, i love hondas, but i need a realistic mileage. Ive heard good and bad!

The fact that it has a rebuilt title means that no one can give you any realistic expectations. It all depends on how well it was rebuilt. I would never buy a rebuilt vehicle without having it thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic.

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there is a product called "restore" they have 4-8 cyl canisters, this is an oil additive which you add at an oil change, it re-seals the piston walls, if the oil still burns it's a different and possibly bigger problem.

hey i am currently a high school student i want to buy a honda civic ex coupe year 2000 and it has over 175,000 miles and they want 2,995. If anyone can help me decide to either get this car or walk away would help me and my wallet.

I have a 2001 Civic EX with 338,000 miles on it, mostly highway/interstate driven 110 miles each work-day. I just replaced the OEM alternator casue it was making a rattling noise..it seemed to be functioning perfectly. I just put in my third set of platinum spark plugs. Aside from routine maintenance like air filters, oil change, brake pads, and a timing belt change at 185K miles, nothing else has been done to the car...nothing. It gets 40 mpg on the highway, and I expect to get another 100-150K out of it.